Wednesday, February 11, 2015

3 Ionia County accused embezzlers arraigned

Three female treasurers charged with embezzling were arraigned Tuesday morning in Ionia County 64-A District Court, with Judge Raymond Voet presiding.

Voet entered a not guilty plea for Dana Kamradt of Ionia, who is accused of embezzlement as an agent or trustee of an amount between $1,000 and $20,000 by the Jefferson Elementary School boosters organization. The embezzlement is alleged to have taken place from Aug. 1, 2013 through Oct. 6, 2014, and Kamradt allegedly came into possession of the cash, money or other personal property based upon her relationship with the organization. Kamradt served as the treasurer for the school’s parent teacher group.

A probable cause conference is scheduled for 1 p.m. Feb. 18, for Kamradt, with a preliminary exam to follow at 1 p.m. Feb. 25, if necessary.

If convicted, the maximum penalty for this felony is up to five years in prison and/or a fine of $10,000 or three times the amount embezzled, whichever is greater. Kamradt is free on bond.

Voet also entered a not guilty plea for former city of Portland treasurer Brenda Schrauben, who was arraigned Tuesday on one count of embezzlement as an agent or trustee. Schrauben is accused of taking cash and sick leave, money or personal property valued between $1,000 and $20,000, which came into her possession based upon her relationship with the city from July 14, 2013 through Dec. 31, 2014.

A probable cause conference is scheduled for 1 p.m. Feb. 18 for Schrauben, with a preliminary exam to follow at 1 p.m. Feb. 25, if necessary.

If convicted, this felony carries a maximum penalty of up to five years in prison and/or a fine of $10,000, or three time the amount embezzled, whichever amount is greater. Schrauben is free on bond.

Wendi Houserman, former Village of Muir treasurer, also was arraigned Tuesday morning. Houserman entered a plea agreement, contingent upon paying restitution by her sentencing date, and this will allow her to remove incarceration as part of her sentence. Houserman has opted to represent herself, and as part of the deal, she waived the right to a preliminary exam.

Houserman is charged with embezzlement by an agent or trustee, and is accused of using village funds to her personal use from 2008 to 2014 based upon her relationship with the village. If convicted, the maximum penalty is up to five years in prison and/or a fine of $10,000, or three times the amount embezzled, whichever is greater. Houserman is free on bond.

Houserman pleaded guilty, and with that, gave up the right to trial.

“I was entrusted to village funds and used some for my personal use,” Houserman said.

The actual amount embezzled is approximately $17,566, but the amount will also include $1,192 in interest and $342 for the village’s attorney fees, according to Ionia County Prosecutor Ron Schafer. With the attorney fees and interest accounted for, the total amount is more than $19,000.